In the final chapter of The Red Badge of Courage, why is Henry still haunted by his early actions?

The last chapter shows that even after his success in the
last big charge and his new-found prowess and experience in battle, Henry cannot shake
off his earlier cowardice when he first faced war. The duality of his response to his
success in the last battle: his feeling of pride but also this lingering sentiment of
cowardice, is what triggers his coming-of age as he is able to put the past behind him.
Note the way that, after the initial jubilation and swell of pride in his role in the
battle, he is haunted by old fears and actions:

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Nevertheless, the ghost of his flight from the
first engagement appeared to him and danced. There were small shoutings in his brain
about these matters. For a moment he blushed, and the light of his soul flickered with
shame.

In particular, he
reproaches himself for his abandoment of the tattered man. However, it is looking back
at both his achievements and his failures that allows Henry to put his life into proper
perspective.

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And at last his eyes seemed to be opened to some
new ways. He found that he could look back upon the brass and bombast of his earlier
gospels and see them truly. He was gleeful when he discovered that he despised
them.

Thus we can see that
the memory of Henry's earlier actions is not a negative thing. He has to integrate all
of his actions, both good and bad, into who he is, and when he is able to do this, he
realises that he is a man who has grown up.